What is an English golden retriever?

The basic difference between an American Golden Retriever and an English Golden Retriever is the official breed standard that all reputable breeders strive to achieve. There are two main standards for pure bred dogs the United States and Canada use the AKC (American Kennel Club) standards while the rest of the world uses the KC (The Kennel Club) standards.

There are a few notable differences between the AKC and the KC requirements for Golden Retrievers. Here are a few of the basics: the AKC considers "extremely pale" to be a fault while the KC does not. A dog bred to the AKC standards will not have a white/cream coat. On the opposite end of the color spectrum, the KC considers red or mahogany colored coats to be a fault while the AKC does not, so in Europe a well bred dog will never have a red or mahogany coat. In Europe Golden retrievers are often white or cream colored. In North America golden retrievers are often red or apricot.

The AKC standard desires a sloping top line while the KC prefers a straight/level line. The AKC prefers ears to be above and behind the level of the eyes with the eyes wide set while the KC prefers the ears to be set at approximate level with the eyes. In general, the English retrievers have a slightly shorter muzzle and a squared/blocky-looking head.

Aside from the beautiful look of the English Goldens, we love their mild, easy going temperament!

Even more importantly, the health and longevity of the English Goldens are better than their American counterparts. American Goldens are known to have a high incidence of cancer and hip displasia while the English Goldens have significantly less occurrence of both disorders. Click HERE to read more about the research.